Thread guide and tension equalizer for spinning machines



July 3,l 1934 THREAD GUIDE AND TENSoN BQUALIZ ER FOR SPINNG MACHINES edJune l0, i931 Fil E... EN, SC-UMEF'F *SUEDE AND TENSECN EQUALIZEB FOR SFilfad Jun lO, 1951 ORNEYS.

TERE@ a.. :fsQHAAFF 1,965,471

AMZERFOR SPINNING MACHINES N EQU ilsc June .NND @N510 THREAT) GUEPatented July 3, 1934 THREAD GUIDE AND TENSION EQUALIZER FOR SPINNINGMACHINES Louis W. Schaaff,

Application June 10, 1931, Serial No. 543,450

15 Claims.

My invention relates to means for equalizing the tension on thread oryarn and is especially adapted to spinning machines of the typeemploying spindles which rotate within rings movable on a rail along thespindles, and in which the thread or yarn passes from the creel througha thread guide above the spindles and through Itravelers on the rings.

Machines of the above type are widely used in spinning various kinds ofthreads and yarns such, for example, as cotton, wool, silk, etc.,'andthe traveler regulates the twist imparted to yarn or thread wound on tothe bobbin by lagging behind the spindle in speed due to the pull of thethread or yarn on the traveler. The thread or yarn being pulled throughthe traveler and through the thread guide is subjected to varyingdegrees of tension due to the constantly changing relative positions ofthe parts constituting the spinning means as the ring rail moves up anddown along the spindle and as the diameter of the bobbin being built upchanges. In fact there is inevitably more tension on the thread atcertain points along the ring rail traverse than at other points, andfrequently the tension approaches undesirable slackness atcertain pointsand becomes so great at other points as to exceed the limit which thethread or yarn can stand at other points. of necessity affect theuniformity of the twist in the yarn and therefore make for inferiorquality in the spun material.

If, for instance, the spindle speed is adjusted to the limit of tensionwhich the thread will bear at the wide diameter of the bobbin then itwill be found that the thread will break at'the narrow diameter, and ifthe spindle speed is adjusted to the limit of tension which the threadwillY bear at the narrow diameter then there will 40 be too great aslack in the tension at the Wider diameters.

Various proposals Iand efforts have been made to overcome the foregoingconditions, but all such proposals and efforts have accepted theconditions as irremediable and have been of such form as to decreaseproduction capacity without materially improving the character of thefinished material and bobbin. For example, in y one instance the speedof the spindle is slowed down and increased alternately duringproduction of a bobbin, thereby materially decreasing the output permachine unit. These variations in spindle speed are also accomplished byexpensive machinery. In another instance the weight of the traveler isincreased or diminished necessitat- These unstable tension conditionsWeehawken, N. J.

ing a copious supply of various sized travelers.Y Under eitherarrangement or combination therebobbin is not attained although theproduction or output per machine unit is reduced.

I have found that'the variation in tension can be controlled through themedium of the thread or yarn guide and that when thread or yarn isguided through a relatively large loop a high degree of tension on thethread or yarn prevails Whereas when the thread or yarn is guidedthrough a lsmall loop a low tension on the thread or yarn prevails, andby regulating the size of the thread guide loop with respect to thechar- -acterv and strength of the thread orY yarn being spun, and thecharacter and dimension of the bobbin being maderthe tension on thethread can be equalized through the whole spinning operation withoutslowing down the machinery at any time and without the necessity ofchange in weight of travelers.

An important object of my invention is to provide means for equalizingthe tension on thread or yarn during lspinning thereof on bobbins lat amaximum constant speed and eliminating the present necessity for Valarge stock of travelers of various weights.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mechanism and a method'for spinning yarns on bobbins with equalized tension throughout alldiameters of the bobbin to impart a uniform twist to the thread and toobtain a more compact and evenly wound bobbin.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the abovecharacter in which the 5 thread guides are collectively and individuallyadjustable. f

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the abovecharacter in which the thread guides are collectively reversible toopposite limits during the spinning of certain bobbins.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the abovecharacter which can be readily installed on existing spinning machinery.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following detail description of t drawings inwhich he accompanying Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of aring spinning frame upon which a cotton bobbink is shown as partlyformed and. with my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View looking in the direction of line 3-3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 3 showing a modication of the inventionwherein the same is manually operable;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 showing a silk bobbin beingwound and with my invention applied in slightly moded form;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing another modication;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a fragment of a ring spinning machineshowing the invention applied thereto for collective operation with aplurality of bobbins and illustrating means for shifting the threadguides to opposite limits during the process of spinning a cottonbobbin;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail fragmentary top plan View of the apparatusshown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a detail fragmentary view of a modification of the means formoving the thread guide rods in opposite directions.

Referring to Figs. 1-4 the numeral 12 indicates the traveler ringmounted on the rail 13, secured to the frame 14, and movable upwardlyand downwardly therewith along the spindle or quill 15 which isrotatably mounted on the shaft 16. The apparatus for rotating the shaft16 and for moving the ring rail and frame 14 up and down is not shown,it being understood that the same may be of any type now generally inuse. The traveler 17 is loosely mounted on the ring l2 and the yarn 18runs to the quill 15 through the traveler 17 and thread guide 19 from acreel not shown. The bobbin 20 in Fig. 1 is typical of one type ofcotton bobbin wherein the thread starts adjacent the bottom of the quill15 as at 21 and gradually builds up in steps to a larger diameter 22which is carried upwardly as shown in dotted lines to point 23 where thebobbin again tapers in to the upper portion of the quill l5. As has beenmentioned, the tension on the thread at the point 21 is quite differentfrom that at the point 22 due to difference in diameter as well asdifferent positions of the traveler relative to the thread guide when atthe respective points. For the purpose of equalizing this tensionwithout varying the speed of the spindle and/or weight of the traveler,I have provided the novel thread guide 19 and means for operating theguide comprising an outer elongated sleeve 25 secured to the frame 14for movement therewith Yand an inner sleeve 26 fixedly secured to thesupport 27 at its top and telescoping within the sleeve 25 at itsbottom. The sleeves 25 and 26 are preferably angular in formation andhave sliding telescoping non-rotating engagement with each other. Withinthe sleeve 26 is mounted a rod 27 carrying the pin 28 which engages inthe cam slot 29 in the sleeve 25. The rod 27 has rotary reciprocatingmovement within the sleeve 26 and at its upper end is xedly secured toan arm 3G of the thread guide by means of the screw 31. Arm 30 carries apin 32 which operates within a slot 33 in the arm 34 of the thread guideso that as the arm 30 is turned by the rod 27', the pin 32 will move arm34 to and from arm 30 to vary the size of opening 35.

The opening 35 is formed by the overlapping of loppositely facing pairsof prongs or extensions 36 and 37 on the arms 30 and 34, the prongsbeing of sufficient length and relatively positioned to alord a variableopening as shown in Fig. 3, it being understood that the prongs may bereadily moved apart to permit insertion of the thread or yarntherebetween.

The opening 35 is varied automatically in the following manner.Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the pin 28 is in the slot 29at a point where the slot begins to extend transversely across thesleeve 25 to a point C adjacent the bottom, and the bobbin has beenbuilt up from a narrow diameter 21 to its widest diameter 22 and isbuilding towards the top from the widest to the narrowest. The sleeve 25has been moving up and down with the frame 14 so that the slot 29 hasbeen engaging the pin 28 between points A and B, during which time thetraveler i7 has been remote from guide 19 and the tension on the threador yarn has been at a minimum so that the arms 30 and 34 have beenmaintained substan.u tially in the dotted line position of Fig. 3 withthe opening 35 large. As the frame and traveler move up the tensionincreases if the thread guide opening is unchanged, but as the travelerand frame move up the sleeve 25 also moves up and the slot 29 engagesthe pin 28 which gradually moves across the sleeve turning the rod 27'and closing the opening 35 by moving the arms 30 and 34 toward eachother until the prongs 36 and 37 are in the full line position oi Fig. 3when the pin is adjacent point C and traveler 17 is opposite the top ofthe bobbin. rThe ballooning guard 38 can be mounted on the sleeve 25 formovement therewith, and an eineient and economical guard can be formedof two resilient curved arms as shown in Figs. 1, and 2, the armsoverlapping at their outer ends so as to provide a loop which can bereadily opened for insertion of the thread.

Referring to Fig. 5, I have shown the arms 4G and 41 of the thread guideas pivoted at 42 and 43 respectively to the bracket 44 carried by thesupport 45. The arm 40 has a projection 46 which engages in the fork 47carried by the arm 41 and from which extends the lug 48 for engagementin the slot 49 or the lever 59 which is pivoted to the bracket at 51.Under this construcion and arrangement, the arms 40 and 41 may be movedrelative to each other to vary the size of the opening 35 to either thefull line position or the dotted line position or in intermediatepositions by movement of the lever 50. This device may be used inspinning yarnto equalize tension on respective or individual spindles atvarious stages of the spinning operation to equalize tension either withrespect to the diameter of the bobbin or the position of the travelerrelative to the guide or both.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 it will be Anoted that the bobbin 40 is ofconstant dimension from top to bottom. In the formation of this bobbin,as in the case of other bobbins, the tension on-the thread increases asthe traveler moves upwardly 1 and is the greatest when the traveler isat the highest point of its movement at which point the angle of thethread between the vthread guide 19 and the traveler 17 is increased. IproposeV in connection with this type of bobbin to have the slot 41extending in a straight line along the` sleeve 25 to engage the pin 28during the wind- 1 ing of the thread on the lower portion of the bobbin,but adjacent the lower end of the sleeve and jaws of the thread guide19' will be closed as described in connection with Figs. 1-4.

In Fig. 7 the slot 44 is inclined in a straight line across the casing25" so that the pin 28 will be moved in the slot to cause the rod towhich it is attached as in Fig. 1, to gradually and progressively openand close the jaws of the thread guide during the entire movement of thering frame relative to the bobbin. It will be noted that the pin isadjacent the top of the slot, while the traveler is adjacent the bottomof the bobbin at which time the jaws of the thread guide are in openposition providing a comparatively large loop, and it will be understoodthat as the ring frame moves up along the bobbin, the pin is disposed inthe lower portion of the slot and the jaws will be moved toward eachotherv to diminish the loop in the thread guide.

It is possible to have the slotted sleeve stationary and the telescopingsleeve and pin carrying rod moved by the frame to operate the jaws ofthe thread guide, in the embodiments of the invention utilizing suchparts.

The preferred form of the invention is exhibited in Figs. 8-11 whereinthe numeral 66 indicates the spindles mounted in bolster bearings 61 andextending up through the ring rail 62 which carries the rings 63 withthe followers 64 thereon. The yarn 65 is threaded through the followerand up through the guides 66, which comprise arms 67 formed to overlapand provide loops 68 for the reception of the yarn 65 and xedly securedto supports 69 slidably mounted on spaced parallel rod 70. The supports69 may be frictionally engageable with the rod 70 and may further beprovided with set screws 71 extending through a wall thereof forengagement with the rods 70 to hold the respective arms 67 inpredetermined relative positions. It will be noted that each support 69for cooperating arms 67 is mounted on an opposite rod 70 and the rodsare carried by supporting frame 72 hingedly supported as at 73 to asupporting surface so that the frame and guides may be swung upwardly topermit free removal of the bobbins.

In Fig. 8, I have shown the rods 70 offset at their ends and eachprovided with a pin 74 engageable in slots 75 in oppositely disposedarms 76 on the rocking lever 77 which has at its other end a toothedsegment 78 meshing with a spur gear 79 carried by shaft 8O to which isconnected a spur gear 81 meshing with the teeth 82 on the operating rackbar 83. The rack bar 83 has a second arm 84 which has gear teeth 85provided on its inner face from its approximate center to its outer endand confronting the teeth 82. The rocking lever 77 will simultaneouslymove the rods 70 in opposite directions.

In Fig. 11 I have shown a modification wherein the rods 70' are providedwith teeth 87 and the rocking lever 77' has the toothed segment 78 and agear wheel 88 meshing with the teeth 87 to move the rods 70 in oppositedirections.

The operation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 8 is as follows. Assumingthat the bobbins to be built up on the spindles are of the samecharacter as described in connection with Fig. 1 wherein it starts atthe narrow diameter and builds up to a wider diameter which is carriedto a point adjacent the top of the spindle, as shown in dotted lines,the rack bar 83 is shifted on its pivot 90 so that the teeth 85 willmesh with the teeth of the spur gear 81 while the teeth 82 will be outof mesh, it being understood that the tension of the spring 91 will holdthe rack bar in position while the partsv are operating. When the yarnor thread is initially fed through the follower 64 the frame 62 is atits lowest position and the uppermost of the teeth 85 will be engagingthe gear 81 and the arms 67 of the thread guide will be in openposition. As the frame 62 moves up the teeth 85 will mesh with the teethon the gear 81 in synchronism with the movements of the frame 62 so thatas the bobbin is built up to its widest diameter the thread guideopening will be gradually increased and diminished in size due to theopposite movements of the rods 70 imparted by the rack arms 77 throughthe medium of the segment 78 and the pin and slot connection 74, 76.When the bobbin has been built approximately to the stage shown in Fig.8 the rack bar 83 is shifted so that the teeth 82 will mesh with thegear 81 to impart thereto an opposite movement which results inreversing the relative movements of the bars 70 so that the opening andclosing of the thread guide will be reversed as the bobbin is built fromthe widest to the narrowest.

It will be understood that the result would be exactly the same if thearrangement shown in Fig. 11 was employed instead of that shown in Fig.r8.

In Fig. 10 I have shown in dotted lines the relative position of thethread guide arms when the critical point of tension on the thread oryarn is reached which will be at the narrowest diameter and/or at thenearest approach of the traveler to the thread guide.

As has been mentioned the relative positions of the arms of the threadguides can be individually adjusted in accordance with the necessitiesor conditions existing in respect to the individual spindles, and itwill be obvious from the foregoing that the thread guides arecollectively operable by the mechanism and in the manner abovedescribed.

While I have shown the arms of the thread guide as being substantiallyV-shaped it is possible to have these arms bent in a continuous curvewith no angles and to so form them, if desired, that the opening formedtherebetween will be substantially circular instead of angular in allrelative positions. The arms are preferably formed of metal such as astiff and highly polished wire but they can be formed of any suitablematerial and be of any relative shape, or size. In fact the invention issusceptible to so many variations and alterations that it would beimpractcable to endeavor to illustrate them all in this application.

The important feature of the invention is the adjustability of thethread guide opening and closing during the spinning operation eithermanually or automatically to compensate for the differences in tensionat various relative positions of the parts. It should be apparent fromthe foregoing that whereas under existing conditions the thread has aconstant centrifugal motion between the traveler and the thread guideand revolves with centrifugal motion within the thread guides that inthe practice of my invention the centrifugal motion of the thread withinthe thread guide can be progressively diminished and finally preventedat the critical point either with respect to the diameter of the bobbinor of the relative positions of the traveler or thread guide or both. Infact the opening can be so reduced as to restrict the thread to astrictly turning motion about its own axis.

I claim:

1. A thread and yarn guide for spinning machines comprising a pair ofarms forming a loop through which the thread or yarn runs and movablewith respect to each other' to vary the size 5of the loop during aspinning operation, said arms being supported above the spindle of themachine.

2. A thread and yarn guide for spinning ma` chines comprising a pair ofarms above the spin-- ltirdle forming a loop through which the thread oryarn is passed, and means for moving said arms to vary the size of theloop during a spinning operation.

3. A thread or yarn guide for spinning majichines comprising overlappingspaced members above the spindle providing an opening through Which thethread or yarn passes, and means for moving said members during aspinning operation to various relative overlapping positions to Qgvarythe size ci the opening.

4. In combination with thread and yarn spinning mechanism including arotary spindle and a spinning ring frame movable along said spindle, aguide above said spindle providing an opening -"t hrough which thethread and yarn passes, and

gg-oing a spinning operation, said means being operable by movement o1the frame.

6. In combination with thread and yarn spinning mechanism including arotary spindle and a spinning ring frame movable along said spindle,

"a guide above the spindle having an opening through which the threadand yarn passes, and means for varying the size of the opening, saidmeans being manually operable at any stage during the spinningoperation.

"t: 7. In combination with thread or yarn spinning mechanism including aplurality of spindles and a spinning ring frame movable along saidspindles, a plurality of thread and yarn guides having openings forpassage of the thread or "yarn and arranged one above each spindle, and

means for collectively varying the size of the openings in synchronismwith movements of the frame during a spinning operation.

8. In combination with thread or yarn spinfjning mechanism including aplurality of spindles and a spinning ring frame movable along saidspindles, a plurality of thread and yarn guides arranged one for eachspindle above the spindles, and having openings to receive the thread oryarn #while the yarn is being spun, and means for collectivelyvaryingrthe size of the openings in said guides during a spinningoperation.

9. In combination With thread or yarn spinning mechanism including aplurality of spindles and a spinning ring frame movable along saidspindles, a plurality of thread and yarn guides arranged one for eachspindle above the spindles and having openings to receive the thread oryarn, said guides being individually adjustable to vary the size of theopenings, and means for collectively varying the size of said openingsin the guides during a spinning operation.

l0. The structure of claim 9 wherein the means for collectively varyingthe size of the openings is operated by movement of said frame.

l1. The method of equalizing tension on thread or yarn during spinningthereof on a bobbin which comprises permitting the thread to have apredetermined maximum limit of centrifugal motion at a given point abovethe bobbin and changing said motion during the course of spinning atcertain points on the bobbin to a turning motion of the thread on itsown axis at said point by varying the amount or said motion Within aguide for the thread located above the bobbin l2. In combination Withthread or yarn spinning mechanism including a rotary spindle and aspinning ring frame movable along said spindle, a pair of oppositelymovable rods, a plurality of thread or yarn guides arranged one aboveeach spindle, each guide comprising a pair or" overlapping members ormedto provide an opening through which the thread passes and connected tothe rods, and means operable by movements of the ring frame for movingsaid rods in opposite directions to vary the sizes of the openingsduring a spinning operation.

13. In combination with thread or yarn spinning mechanism including arotary spindle and a spinning ring frame movable along said spindle, apair of oppositely movable rods, a plurality of thread or yarn guidesarranged one above each spindle, each guide comprising aV pair ofYoverlapping members formed toV provide an opening through which thethread or yarn passes and connected to the rods for movement in oppositedirections to vary the sizes of the openings, and means for moving saidrods comprising a connection between the rods and the ring frame.

14. The structure of claim 13 wherein means is provided for reversingthe relative movements of the rods.

l5. In combination with thread or yarn spinning mechanism including arotary spindle and a spinning ring frame movable along said spindie, athread or yarn guide above the spindle and comprising a pair of armshaving overlapping portions forming a loop through which the threadpasses, a support for said arms, cam means for moving said arms to varythe size of said loop, said cam means being actuated by movements of thering frame along said spindle to Vary the size of said loops during thespinning operation in accordance with different positions of the framerelative to the spindle.

LOUIS W. SCHAAFF.

